How do you not just give in & do formula? - Page 2

[Joshuasmom16]

Originally Posted by DaytonsMom

Just wondering how you and the baby are doing Joshuasmom16? We're now wheat and Dairy free. Everyday gets a little easier for us. I hope things are going well for you too.

Hi Dayton's mom - thanks for asking!! we're doing fine. we went gluten free for about a week. No change in symptoms, saw the pedi who thought it wasn't gluten intolerance. One of her reasons was that we had him on iron for anemia and his hemoglobin went up from 9.3 to 12.9 in 6 weeks, and she said if he was intolerant or sensitive, it wouldn't have improved so quickly. so I'm back on gluten and he's mostly gluten free but has had some wheat pasta here & there.

Cant' really tell if he's better. he has very faint allergic shiners, and still nurses at night frequently, but doesn't moan/cry anymore (at least not the last 2 nights) and his poops are still loose but only every other day not every day & he doesn't seem to have gas anymore. maybe it was the iron that was causing all his symptoms before/??? who knows?! but at least I didn't cave in and do formula!! (not yet anyway )

[mommydancer]

My LO also seemed to react when we gave him iron. I also wanted to post because it is my understanding that wheat takes a long time to clear the system, so if in the future you want to check again, I think a trial longer w/o gluten might be a good plan. It took six weeks before we saw a definite change when I quit dairy/ soy. I want to be clear though, I totally support the choice you made. We are each doing our best to make the best choices we can, and there are positive and negative aspects to either decision.

[stellimamo]

Hang in there Mama. It is really hard for awhile while you learn to adjust. I have days where it is so tempting just to quit because my diet is so restricted (ds is allergic to dairy, peanuts, and eggs. I'm allergic or have oral allergy syndrome to soy, most fresh fruit/veggies, and some nuts).

It's so darn hard some days but I tell myself this is temporary and that in a few months or a year I can go back to eating dairy and eggs. It's just a small sacrific I can make right now that really does benefit my baby. Yeay it totally sucks some days but it really does get better. I remember being angry about have to adjust my diet. I might get a little sad from time to time now, like when my family was eating yummy looking Krispy Kremes today but when I remember the gift I'm giving ds it makes it more bearable.

[Pookietooth]

Ironically, I have found that now that my ds is 5, he has pretty much outgrown his gluten sensitivity, but I have not. I am the one who reacts with chest pain to eating it, so I still have to buy gluten free pasta and bread (small amounts don't seem to bother me). You may find that after six months off it, you don't want it anymore, or when you try to challenge it, you are the one with the reaction.
Iron can definitely cause tummy upset, especially the stuff pediatricians prescribe, as it is in a form that not only isn't absorbed well, but also blocks the more easily absorbed iron from other foods and breastmilk. Floradix is better, or liver if you do animal products.